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The Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the most recognizable dinosaurs of all time. He played both hero and villain in pop culture, and he is almost universally described as an imposing brute with unimaginable power. The jury still has not determined whether the huge ancient creature was primarily a predator or scavenger, but we are still learning more about the species, including the size of its growth potential.
A T. rex specimen found in Canada helps researchers understand this last point. This is the largest skeleton of rex ever discovered, and it is estimated that the animal that left the fossils behind him weighs 19 kg.
As National Geographic indicates that the skeleton is about 65% complete, which gives paleontologists a good idea of the overall size of the living animal. The specimen, which was nicknamed "Scotty", would have lived until the age of 28, or even a little older. It sounds young enough for us, but in general terms it's a very long life.
The creature, which researchers describe as "extremely bulky" and "robust", is the largest T. rex ever discovered, but it was not a particularly new discovery. Scotty was discovered in 1991, but his bones were so ingrained in hard rock that it took scientists over fifteen years to reconstruct it in a larger form that could be studied.
Scotty lived about 68 million years ago, when the Earth was very different from what she is today. His incredible size would have made the animal an intimidating sight, but he might not have used his raw power to actively chase his prey. Scientists are extensively discussing the lifestyle of T. rex and it is possible that large animals such as Scotty are more comfortable removing dead carcasses than falling or ambushing. their own meal.
Image Source: JUSTIN LANE / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
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